ANNOUNCEMENT – World Architecture Festival Awards – "302 projects in the 2013 Shortlist"

Quote from the press release:

“World Architecture Festival Awards 2013 shortlist announced

Shortlist of 302 projects highlights the global strength of architecture and design
Organisers see big increase in entries from Europe and North America

Singapore, July 3, 2013 – A giraffe house in New Zealand, a monastery in Taiwan, a treehouse in the USA and a research station in Antarctica are among the 302 projects that have today been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2013 – the world’s biggest architectural awards programme.

Taking place at this year’s sixth annual World Architecture Festival, the WAF Awards 2013 have attracted entries from almost 50 countries. The festival’s organisers, i2i Events Group, saw projects submitted from as far afield as New Zealand and Denmark, via Mexico and Azerbaijan. The geographic spread of entries in the shortlist is further complemented by the variety of projects, from The National Arboretum in Australia, to a media centre in Kazakhstan and an opera house in South Korea.

This year’s festival is being held in Singapore for the second time, and whilst the organisers have again seen huge interest in entries from South East Asia, entries from Europe and North America have increased by almost 40% and 14% respectively.

Buildings designed by global architects such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, and Robert A.M. Stern Architects feature among projects by smaller, local practices. Practices will compete across 29 individual award categories, spanning completed buildings, landscape projects and future projects, presenting their shortlisted designs live to international judging panels and festival delegates.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: ‘Following such strong competition at last year’s awards, expectations were understandably high for the WAF Awards 2013, and the entries did not disappoint. From the subtle to the spectacular, from a four room house to an 80 storey tower, the sheer quality and diversity reflected in the array of projects shortlisted today demonstrates the increasingly global nature of the event. All eyes are now on the festival’s venue, the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, where the architects will battle to win their individual categories, with the victorious projects competing for the coveted World Building of the Year award.””

To continue reading the press release and for more photos…

To visit the World Architecture Festival website…

(Source: Caroline Simard, Projects manager, public relations and partnerships, Volume 2)

(Photos: Cover: Heydar Aliyev Centre – Zaha Hadid Architects. Top: L’Avenue Shanghai – Leigh & Orange.)